You might be thinking of the possibility of dental implants to replace tooth loss. Truth be told, implants are a great, maybe even the best, way to add structure to neighboring teeth and to improve your smile. However, tooth loss can impact the jawbone, affecting your chances of getting future dental procedures. In such cases, dentists recommendbone grafting to build the jawbone and add structure for future dental work.
What is Bone Grafting?
Missing teeth can negatively impact the structure of your jawbone over time. As neighboring teeth rub against the gums, they weaken the jawbone.
Bone grafting involves the addition of a dental bone graft to the jaw, which is used to solidify the bone in parts that have lost density or volume. These grafts replace gaps underneath the teeth to counter bone loss.
As the bone graft is placed onto the tissue, the gums begin to work around it. Soon, the tissue wraps around the fresh structure, providing stability to itself, the teeth surrounding it, and any new implants inserted over it. Bone grafts can be made from different kinds of materials, such as:
| • | Material taken from your own body. |
| • | Material sourced from a human tissue bank. |
| • | Material from an animal tissue bank. |
| • | Synthetic material. |
Is Bone Grafting an Essential Part of Dental Implants?
You might not always need a bone graft to get a dental implant. Generally, dental implant surgery requires some preparation, which in some cases, can be a procedure to strengthen the jawbone before the implant is laid on top. Bone grafting is essential in cases of tooth loss, as some parts of your jaw might be weak. In such situations, a graft helps elongate the life of a dental implant as it strengthens the jaw and keeps the bone underneath stimulated.
Some signs that you need a bone graft include the following:
| • | The jawbone has lost its thickness. |
| • | The current bone structure is too soft for an implant to hold. |
| • | You have lost most of your teeth for quite some time. |
Do Tooth Extractions Require Bone Grafting?
Tooth extractions may occur when a tooth has decayed and can’t be saved. Extractions can be a painful process. Therefore, it is important to understand how you can avoid more extractions in the future.
One important thing to note is the impact of tooth loss on the surrounding teeth and jawbone. Thus, bone grafting can be used to strengthen the underlying structure once the tooth has been extracted.
Book an Appointment Today
Contact Long Island Smile by calling us at (516) 243-7473 to book your appointment and have your jawbone examined.
The examination can help you avoid early signs of a weakened jawbone which can be countered with bone grafts that add volume and strength to the tooth structure. This helps you avoid further decay and allows you to opt for better procedures in the future.
Make an
Subscribe to Our
Contact
Complete Your